Swindell Crowned Champ At Kings Royal

Sammy Swindell outlasted a late charge from Kerry Madsen to claim the 29th annual Kings Royal – and the $50,000 first-place prize.

The victory was his 20th career at Eldora Speedway and his third career Kings Royal title, which ties him with Jac Haudenschild for second on the all-time list.

“It would have been nice to be back to back,” Swindell said. “I was just trying to be as conservative as I could; to run hard where I needed to and be careful where I needed to. We pulled it off.”

After qualifying 22nd of the season-high 50 drivers and winning his heat race, Swindell started third in the feature based on the special format. He passed Paul McMahan for the runner-up position on lap seven and then drove into the lead on the restart following the first caution – on lap 11 for Stevie Smith, who came to a stop in turn four.

Tim Kaeding hit the wall in turn two while running fifth on the restart and came to a stop on the frontstretch, bringing out another caution. Swindell chose the inside lane on the double-file restart and rocketed to the lead while Chad Kemenah and Dale Blaney, who restarted second and fourth, respectively, made contact on the ensuing lap.

Kemenah faded and eventually pulled into the pits, while Blaney lost several positions after nearly getting into the wall during the melee. Daryn Pittman closed to the rear of Swindell as a couple of drivers who transferred out of the B Main started to charge prior to the halfway point.

By lap 14, B Main winner Donny Schatz had advanced from 21st to fifth, while 23rd starter Kraig Kinser moved to eighth and 24 th starter Steve Kinser was in 10th.

However, the car on the move was Kerry Madsen. He restarted 11th on lap 11 and advanced to third place as Swindell entered traffic near the halfway mark of the feature. Madsen and Pittman then traded slide jobs in every corner for two straight laps before Madsen held onto the spot on lap 27. Two laps later the final caution waved for debris in turn three and the field was stopped to refuel.

Madsen and Pittman continued their sliders on the restart while Swindell checked out. Madsen again regained the position for good with 10 laps remaining and began chasing Swindell. With five laps remaining Madsen dove to the inside in turn one, pulling up next to Swindell but eventually losing ground exiting turn two.

“I didn’t really try a slide job, I just tried to run the middle and thought I could get a run to do a slide job a lap later and it completely backfired on me,” Madsen said. “I just lost too much ground.”

As the duo entered traffic with three laps remaining, Madsen again began to reel in Swindell. However, a last-ditch slide job in turns three and four ended with Swindell’s momentum carrying him past a sliding Madsen in turn four with the checkered flag in the air.

Haudenschild finished third – his eighth career Kings Royal top three and first since winning the event in 1998.

Kemenah, Henderson, Pittman, Swindell, McMahan and Kaeding each claimed a heat race victory, and Dallas Hewitt won the C Main. Craig Dollansky established quick time in qualifying with a lap of 13.338 seconds.

Kings Royal Notebook

NOTES – Steve Kinser leads all drivers with seven career Kings Royal victories. … Craig Dollansky set quick time in qualifying for the sixth race this season. … Chad Kemenah claimed his ninth heat race victory, Justin Henderson his second, Daryn Pittman his fourth, Sammy Swindell his series-leading 12th, Paul McMahan his third and Tim Kaeding his third of the year. … Dallas Hewitt became the fifth different C Main winner in as many events this season. … Donny Schatz became the 29th different B Main winner this year. … Swindell is the first World of Outlaws driver to win a feature in five different months this season.

WINNERS – Sammy Swindell – 7 (Eldora Speedway on July 14, Lakeside Speedway on June 30, Red River Valley Speedway on June 16, Eldora Speedway on May 5, Knoxville Raceway on April 28, Missouri State Fair Speedway on April 20 and Merced Speedway on March 30); Craig Dollansky – 4 (I-96 Speedway on June 2, Hagerstown Speedway on May 20, Tri-State Speedway on April 21 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Kraig Kinser – 4 (Beaver Dam Raceway on July 7, Dodge City Raceway Park on June 23, River Cities Speedway on June 15 and Kokomo Speedway on June 5); Joey Saldana – 4 (Eldora Speedway on July 13, The Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 25, Paducah International Raceway on April 13 and Perris Auto Speedway on March 10); Tim Kaeding – 3 (Cedar Lake Speedway on July 6, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 8); Steve Kinser – 3 (Dodge City Raceway Park on June 22, Orange County Fair Speedway on May 19 and Williams Grove Speedway on May 12); Kerry Madsen – 3 (Limaland Motorsports Park on July 11, Belleville High Banks on June 29 and Knoxville Raceway on June 9); Donny Schatz – 3 (Farmer City Raceway on April 25, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Chad Kemenah – 2 (Lawrenceburg Speedway on May 28 and Eldora Speedway on May 4); Danny Dietrich – 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 10); Mark Dobmeier – 1 (Huset’s Speedway on July 3); Danny Lasoski – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 18); Paul McMahan – 1 (Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on May 16); Fred Rahmer – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 11); Brad Sweet – 1 (Clay County Fairgrounds on June 8).

TIME TRIALS – Craig Dollansky was the fastest qualifier around the half-mile oval with a time of 13.338 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Jac Haudenschild (4 points), Stevie Smith (3), Cody Darrah (2) and Joey Saldana (1).